NC21 VFR400 vs 1988 FZR Exup

[Str8 Jacket]

PART I

Well this weekend I was lent a 19?? VFR400 (nc21) to ride for the weekend to Manfeild and around. Rode it for about 600k's....

Now keep in mind that at the moment I am only comparing the VFR to what the FZR WAS when I owned it. I have yet to ride my old FZR but will be at the sprints this coming weekend...

I have to say that I really enjoyed the VFR! I hadnt ridden a "real" bike in over 8 months and I was nervous as hell riding someone elses bike. We left at around 8pm on Fri from Wgtn, heading to TeHoro so obviously it was dark.... Me being nervous had initially decided to follow the truck there but by the time I go to Ngauranga Gorge I was sweet!

The lights on this bike are waaaaay better than I expected and had an awesome high beam! The bike was small enough to be easy to ride but big enough to feel like you are riding something. The biggest difference I noticed immeadiatley was how easy ity was to twist the throttle. I get OOS and my wrist never ached once!

The chain on the bike was very near its end but the bike still ran pretty smooth. I cruised happily at just above legal speed limits in 6th gear easily. Though the FZR did too..... Another thing I loved about this bike is the sound it makes. Its not loud loud but it has a nice rumble to it. Unlike the FZR it didnt scream so much when twisting the throttle. Im pretty sure it ate alot less gas that the FZR, but then agin I reckon the FZR might be btter now?

The VFR is definately quicker of the mark than the FZR was so thats a bit worrying fo rthe sprints!

Both bikes seemed to turn just as fast as each other into the corners and with the chain on the VFR being a bit bung it didnt accelerate as fast as the FZR out. Then again the FZR had a brand new Oring chain on it. The VFR is alot llighter so its easier to get round corners and correct etc. The tank on the VFR was not as long as the FZR so the reach to the bars wasnt as long either. The positon is more of a sports bike than a cruiser type bike though.

I have to admit that at the moment I reckon the VFR is better than the FZR was. But I'll let y'all know after Ive ridden the new and improved FZR that Paul has worked so hard on. The FZR was a good bike when it was goijng so I reckon it'll be alot nicer maybe even nicer than the VFR....

Thank you so much for being so trusting and letting me ride your bike koba! :love:

[_intense_]

well of course its "better" it is a honda after all :Pokey:

[Str8 Jacket]

well of course its "better" it is a honda after all :Pokey:

Ah but remember the FZR was a peice of pooh when I owned it. The person who now owns it has completely stripped this bike and fixed everything possible so I reckon it'll be a totally different bike.
Im also not really a "brand" person. Ive owned and destroyed a Suzuki a Kawasaki and a Yamaha. Anyway I cant ride well enough nor have I ridden enough bikes to really be able to tell which is the "better" bike!

[merv]

Nice one Hels sounds like you enjoyed the V4 engine which is what really makes the difference.

[Str8 Jacket]

Nice one Hels sounds like you enjoyed the V4 engine which is what really makes the difference.

Yeah, I especially like the sound! Its also quite smooth, had the chain been a better I may have pusehed it a bit more. I was definately quicker of the mark and if id twisted the throttle a bit more then I think it would have redlined a bit faster than the FZR. Im looking forward to riding the FZR this weekend. Im expecting it to run alot better and possibly faster! I now have also been able to check out, first hand my competition for the sprints... hehe Here's hoping he doesnt get that new chain in time!!

[merv]

OK have fun at the sprints and make sure you get a good result.

[koba]

I've ordered the chain ;)

Now just coolant and a good carb clean...

[NZsarge]

Yeah, I especially like the sound! Its also quite smooth, had the chain been a better I may have pusehed it a bit more. I was definately quicker of the mark and if id twisted the throttle a bit more then I think it would have redlined a bit faster than the FZR. Im looking forward to riding the FZR this weekend. Im expecting it to run alot better and possibly faster! I now have also been able to check out, first hand my competition for the sprints... hehe Here's hoping he doesnt get that new chain in time!!

Be sure and post what you think about the FZR after it's re-furbishment. I'd be interested to know how much better it goes now.

[Teflon]

Love the old vfrs.. They do sound wicked with a pipe. My old nc30 had a carbon can, nice deep raspy sound.. it was the only bike i never dropped.

I think they changed the firing on the 30s, so the 21s will have a different note.

[Paul in NZ]

Be sure and post what you think about the FZR after it's re-furbishment. I'd be interested to know how much better it goes now.

Far out - nothing like pressure eh? :cool:

These bikes run great for ages and then just die - I don't expect it to be markedly different other than it now runs...

But yes - I'll be interested in Helens comments afterwards...

[NZsarge]

Far out - nothing like pressure eh? :cool:

These bikes run great for ages and then just die - I don't expect it to be markedly different other than it now runs...

But yes - I'll be interested in Helens comments afterwards...

Yeah, I don't think you can expect too much more from a 400cc motor really, partiularly higher reving 4 potters as opposed to a big singles (lower revving)....eh ...I dunno.:blink:

[yod]

Yeah, I especially like the sound! Its also quite smooth, had the chain been a better I may have pusehed it a bit more. I was definately quicker of the mark and if id twisted the throttle a bit more then I think it would have redlined a bit faster than the FZR. Im looking forward to riding the FZR this weekend. Im expecting it to run alot better and possibly faster! I now have also been able to check out, first hand my competition for the sprints... hehe Here's hoping he doesnt get that new chain in time!!


Love the old vfrs.. They do sound wicked with a pipe. My old nc30 had a carbon can, nice deep raspy sound.. it was the only bike i never dropped.

I think they changed the firing on the 30s, so the 21s will have a different note.

yeah mine sounds farkin awesome...way better than any inline 4 (imho)

once I get passed 80kmh on the RF i cant even hear the engine but on the VFR you can always hear it....a few of the crowd i ride with never liked following me on the VFR :laugh:

[Str8 Jacket]

Be sure and post what you think about the FZR after it's re-furbishment. I'd be interested to know how much better it goes now.

Hell yeah, that was also the intention of this thread....


I've ordered the chain ;)

Now just coolant and a good carb clean...

Well if worst comes to worst then I can sabotage your bike some other way... Either way I'll be stoked ifI kick your arse! :D



I don't expect it to be markedly different other than it now runs...

But yes - I'll be interested in Helens comments afterwards...

The fact that its actually going now is a marked improvement!! I'll just be stoked if it idles at anything less than 6000 revs!

[Paul in NZ]

The fact that its actually going now is a marked improvement!! I'll just be stoked if it idles at anything less than 6000 revs!

Eh? It idles perfectly at the factory specified 1250 rpm....... :woohoo:

In that case - I think you will find it a different bike - it has rather good manners (except for the $%^# charging) ;-)

[Str8 Jacket]

Eh? It idles perfectly at the factory specified 1250 rpm....... :woohoo:

In that case - I think you will find it a different bike - it has rather good manners (except for the $%^# charging) ;-)

Awesome! IM really looking forward to it :)

[Str8 Jacket]

I sat my eyes on me old FZR for the first time on Sat night. I couldnt believe that it was the same bike! Paul has done an amazing job on this bike both cosmetically and mechanically. It is soooo clean, no rust all cosmetic damage was fixed and its sooo shiny! I needed only a tiny amount of convincing to take it for a blat....

So I start the bike and put in in first gear then I twist the throttle. FARK, just then I realised that it was nothing at all like it used to be. The thing just started moving way faster than I expected so I stopped halfway up the driveway and take a breather while Paul comes running up to see if I was OK.
I forgot how heavy this bike is. Compared to the VFR it is quite noticably heavier. It doesnt look like it but it is. The reach over the tank is alot longer than the VFR as well. Unlike the FZR of old it is now alot easier on the hands. Paul has fixed the levers so they arent as hard on the hands as they were.
The next morning we get up and I get to take the FZR over Paekak for the first time ever. Boy was I slow! The FZR turns in faster to corners than the VFR and its rear suspension was and never will be existent without spending mega bucks.... So if I was honest Id admit that it was scarier to ride than the VFR but the position of the footpegs (higher up than the VFR) and the length of the tank actually makes it alot easier to tuck into it. So by the time we got to the Takas I was quite happy!
The FZR hums now! When I owned it, just before it really died it was idling at anywhere between 6-8000revs. Now its around 1000? I actually had to keep revving it at the lights just to make sure it was still going!
As if I wasnt already excited enough, by the time I got to the sprints I was so excited I couldnt even eat all my pie!!!!........
My experience at the sprints to come.... :D

[merv]

As if I wasnt already excited enough, by the time I got to the sprints I was so excited I couldnt even eat all my pie!!!!........
:D

Damn I hope that bit of the pie you ate wasn't responsible for that last 0.5km/hr you were looking for?

The pie story last time we were filling you up to stop you getting blown off the KR, now salads would be OK eh!

[Str8 Jacket]

Well it's official the FZR can do at least 199.5kph!

I was very conscious that I was not on my own bike and after riding over Paekok and the Taka's quite slowly I was feeling quite comfortable. I still think that the VFR is faster of the mark but thena gain its most likely to be the rider!!

It was a bit gusty on my first flying run and as I was approaching 180k's I was suddenly riding on a sideways lean I instantly dropeed the throttle for some insane reason and my whole body tensed up. Luckily I got my head together leaned into the bike and before I new it the bike was taright again. Having never done the sprints before I wasnt to sure when to slow down. So I didnt, I was still going about 180 when I passed the parked up bikes. The brakes are pretty good on the FZR, they always were but there smoother or something now... I turned around parkked up and had a laugh. Unfortunately I only got a 189 for that run...

The next few runs were great I avereaged about 198... The bike really screams when it hits 4000 revs in second and you suddenly find yourself being pushed back in the seat. Codura doesnt help either. The bike redlines really fast and jumps noticeably in speed when you change up a gear. For the first 4 runs I didnt go past 5th gear and the bike was only at the beggining of redline 14000 revs. The speedo moves up reasonably fast when you hold the throttle open. On my last flying I managed to get the gear changes almost bang on and used 6th gear. I new when I crossed the line that it was the best run. Thats when it did 199.5 :)

Standing quarters.... Well the bike isnt terribly quick of the mark so I had to get the revs right. Never did but Im not convinced that even if I had that it would have been spectacular of the mark... I had two absolutely terrible runs when I kept hitting neutral instead of 2nd (doh!) But I have to admit that it needs a pretty decent kick to change gears and id forgotten. The bike really throws you back when your accelerating fast and it can be a bit scary but the screen protects you form too much if you lean into it..
I saw a 180 on the speedo and my best time wass 13.6 seconds, quite average but again thats the rider not the bike!

It eats the gas but you are more than rewarded with the fun! I know ive said this many many times but WOW!!! Paul has put his heart, soul and wallet into this bike. It is immaculate and it really runs well. It was awesome to be able to take it out in the sprints and I think I have way more confidence in my riding than ive ever had before. I fell in love with this bike on the weekend. It is now the bike I thought I was buying originally and I would happily pay more than I did ($3000). Some lucky bastard is getting an awesome bike!!!

[koba]

:sweatdropGood shit to you and paul!

Having a quick sit on the FZR showed me that HEALL YEAH them pegs are higher and the reach longer! - prob great if your taller than us shortarses :)

It was a great day out and the Fizzer looked better than the NC21 partly because mine has gotten alot dirtier since Ive owned it. :whistle:
What I notice was the VFR Looks Mint from a distance alonside a mint FZR but given a closer inspection my example loses mega marks to the effort and time that paul has put into that fizzer in the small details.

199.5 and 13.6 - Right on par for an 80's 400 Inline 4!

Had me worried there for a while :sweatdrop Watching your standing launches, looked like you got off the line pretty bloody good.

If The VFR hadn't popped up when it did for the price I got it for I would grab on to that FZR in a snap, what a machine!

And ya beat an NC30! :clap: :rockon:

[Str8 Jacket]

And ya beat an NC30! :clap: :rockon:

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Clivoris]

Gaaar. Shoulda given the CBR a thrash. What was the prize for fastest 400 not to grenade?

[koba]

Gaaar. Shoulda given the CBR a thrash. What was the prize for fastest 400 not to grenade?

I got a Bike Rider Mag, Pile of stickers and A HUNDIE BUCK QUASI VOUCHER!

Was also entitled to a prize for fastest standing 400 :Punk:

The sprints are pretty cool that way, 50 bucks to enter but heaps of the people there walk away with real deacent prizes. :woohoo:

[skelstar]

The sprints are pretty cool that way, 50 bucks to enter but heaps of the people there walk away with real deacent prizes. :woohoo:
That is largely due to a LOT of work by Deano and Nikki securing those prizes eh.

[koba]

Sure is!

The sprints is an awesome event that is made possible by the organisers and volunteers putting in so much work. :clap:

Good Shit guys, your work is really apreciated! :clap:

[Paul in NZ]

Sure is!

The sprints is an awesome event that is made possible by the organisers and volunteers putting in so much work. :clap:

Good Shit guys, your work is really apreciated! :clap:

Too bloody right! The organising of these events is a thankless task and we would be the poorer without em - well done folks...

Well done to all the people that turn up and have a go as well.... Its burdy good fun and I dunno why more people don't give it a go...

Actually - I wonder if I should start tricking out the Triumph for November? Chrome reverse cone meggas, flat bars, remove the mirror, pump up the tyres? I reckon I can crack 160 this time lads...... (will I need oxygen at that speed?)

Cheers

[Str8 Jacket]

(will I need oxygen at that speed?)

Cheers

At your age I would probably reccommend it..... :p